Sunny Side Up: Matt Costa

Matt Costa left behind his sunny Southern California comfort zone for gloomy Glasgow, where he recorded his new self-titled album with Mogwai collaborator Tony Doogan.

The results are breathtaking!

With members of Belle and Sebastian (including guitarist Stevie Jackson) serving as his backup band, Costa spiced up several of the albums’ songs with a kiss of rollicking, fanciful orchestral pub rock- enough to deliver a B&S fix till the next Stuart Murdoch et al joint.

The British-ness finds its way into the music in more ways than one for the once nearly professional skateboarder, with Ray Davies-like witticisms and the kind of complex minor guitar keys that recall the haunting folk of John Martyn or Bert Jansch.

It’s a delightful and rich record and, I believe, one of the best so far in 2013.